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Preffered method For Wetting Breaker Aux Contacts in Relay monitoring 2

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proznick

Electrical
May 26, 2008
16
I have subsation design where three hydro plants are going to tie into the sub of one of hydro plants. Between the generators and the sub, there are a total of 7 breakers and 10 protection relays.

I am trying to simplify the wiring requirements from the relay digital inputs and the breaker auxillary contacts (relays monitoring state of breakers).

I wanted to know if common practice is to run both input channel leads back to the breaker aux contacts as in Wetting Method 2 attached or if its an acceptable practice to use Wetting Method 1 also attached.

Wetting Method 1 eases up wiring requirements on the relay as well as to and from the breakers. I would like to utilize this but want to hear from experience whether this is a poor method before proceeding.

Any thoughts on this appreciated, thank you.

R Proznick
 
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I'm not finding the methods 1 & 2.

In general, you need to be sure the wetting method used won't have a common mode of failure, where you could lose all your indication at the same time.
 
Hi Proznick .
From my point of view ONLY methods 1.
"-" is common on the BI of relays
"+" is common on the aux contacts of CB's. DS's.
Izn't good practic disconnect "-" on the BI (binary/digital
inputs).
In additional, are less wiring.
Best Regards.
Slava
 
Sorry, forgot add small remark.
Isn;t critical, but is also some style of design
You connected "-" of relay power supply to "-" common of BI, but "+" you use frome other fuse/MCB, please use same "=/-" for the same loops, is safety.
Best Regards.
Slava
 
I strongly disagree, method 1 is only asking for trouble; method 2 will save your behind when things start to go wrong.

Look at the negative fuse below each relay in method 1 and trace the circuits back to the positive. You will wind up at both breaker positives and that is a disaster waiting to happen.
 
Sorry again.
David, you are right, I dosen't put attention on the "+" to second relay BI.
Of course NO. I would recommend in this case use only ONE dedicated fuse/MCB for the BI.
Is safety and in case of some problem in the wiring, protective relays continue work, every one with dedicated power supply.
Best Regards.
Slava
 
We would generally have the DC+ run to the relay panel terminal block, then split it to run to each 52A, then back to to the (+) relay inputs and common them on the (-) of the relay inputs. This has only 4 wires run to each breaker instead of the 6 shown in method 2.

Are these primary/backup relays? With either method you have shown, loss of either wetting voltage will result in both relays not sensing the breaker status correctly. In the attached diagram, loss of a single wetting voltage will only affect one relay.
 
 http://files.engineering.com/getfile.aspx?folder=da638da5-fa0b-4512-83e8-8f327ed877e4&file=Wetting_Methods[1].doc
bacon4life's scheme is even better than method 2. This way you have a DC for each relay with no crossing. Still missing from all of the drawings are the trip and close circuits; these should be from individual breaker DC circuits.
 
Thank you for your taking time out of your day to submit a response.

I love the exchange of ideas and community on ENG tips.

Thanks to all,

RProznick
 
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